Adult Cruise Nightlife - Alaska?

[Clotho]

Hubby and I are night owls, and this is our first cruise--the Wonder to Alaska in August! This being at breakfast by 8am and off the ship running around so early is going to be very tough for us. But we are committed to making the most of our time as best we can.

It is likely we will want to be up later, in a nightclub or pub or something like that (NOT sports related, thanks). We have second seating for dinner already, which is great for us. But does any kind of night life exist on Disney Alaska cruises? I have these sad memories of an all-inclusive resort we went to on our honeymoon where they had a nightclub, but no one was EVER in it. We went to the piano bar every night and hung out with the same few people kind of half heartedly singing along...in short, there was no nightlife to be enjoyed. I am afraid this cruise will be the same. Especially given that it is Alaska, and not some tropical clime. Seems the warm nights keep people out late to play, but cold weather drives people into warm beds. Is this true for Alaska cruises, DCL particularly?

And does anyone else think that it is strange that kids' activities go until 2am, but adult stuff seems to stop at midnight? I mean, I suppose it will help us night-owls be better about getting to bed at a more reasonable hour. LOL But it seemed odd that it looks like some kids will be out later than their parents!

Can anyone comment on my concerns, and inform us newbies about what goes on after 10pm on an Alaska Disney cruise for adults?

(PS I posted a version of this question on my specific cruise departure thread, but then realized that a lot of people in that thread will be cruising Alaska for the first time, while likely veterans from this cruise would be in the general forum. So I didn't mean to seem to cross-post, and hope that the ways I adjusted this question for a more general audience makes it different enough.)

 

[Stinasmom]

Just returned from the June 18-25 Alaska sailing... and 1st, I will say that it was by far the BEST of the 5 cruises we've done (Mex. Riv.; Eastern; Western; Bahamas).

You will soooo enjoy the sights right from the ship on 6 of the 7 days (not as much to see on the way up - first sea day).

I, too like my nightlife! I found (like previous cruises) I slept so well for 6 hours or so, that going to bed late and getting up early to workout was easy.

For us, they'd programmed a ventriloquist, some comedians, and the Bucket Boys who beat on drums, signs, etc... ALL were VERY entertaining!
They typically would have a night where they did two "family" shows then a late night "adult" show the next night.
Following their shows would be a themed dance party (70's, 80's etc.) for 1/2 hour then great DJ hits to dance to (pop/club music).
Staying out until 1 am is easy!

There is also piano music in the Cadillac lounge to fill in the time between an act and DJ/dance music. Not as well attended but a very friendly atmosphere.

OK... I am not going to tell you this is as festive as a Carnival cruise (which I have never taken, only assuming by reputation), but you can make the most of what is offered.
And, those offering this entertainment REALLY appreciate those wanting to be up late and partake!!

GO!! Have fun!!
But, what you will remember from this NON-tropical cruise, was the beautiful, BEAUTIFUL! scenery and relaxed trip!

 

[Brumbie13]

Our first cruise was on the Wonder to the Mexican Riviera earlier this year.
We are also a couple with no kids.
Unfortunately for you guys, you are right, the ship seems to pretty much go to sleep after midnight.

We tend to stay up late, so we missed breakfast every morning by sleeping in. We didn't care, it's our vacation, we decided what we did.

It would have been nice of more stuff was open later for those who wanted it, but there wasn't. We did meet up with some other married or single adults without kids on a couple of evenings and hang out. Usually people just ended up drinking in someone's stateroom and chatting.

We would hang out as late as things were open, hang out with friends who were still awake, go back to the stateroom and watch something on the TV, or try to make a little souvenir.

Sorry to disappoint you. Disney Cruise Line is great at a lot of things, but adult nightlife isn't one of them.

Maybe Disney is just following my mom's advice from when I was a teenager, "Nothing good happens after midnight."

 

[Clotho]

Sorry to disappoint you. Disney Cruise Line is great at a lot of things, but adult nightlife isn't one of them.

Maybe Disney is just following my mom's advice from when I was a teenager, "Nothing good happens after midnight."

That is both encouraging (first response) and disappointing (your post). LOL thanks, both of you, for your responses.

Sadly, it seems Disney parks have been going the same way. Like the gutting of Pleasure Island! My heart still aches for those nights starting at the comedy club, hitting a dance club, and spending the rest of the evening at Adventurer's Club (KUNGALOOSH!). Why take away all the adult fun, Disney? COME ON!

 

[kdeans1010]

I was wondering this too.

 

[twopeasonepod]

I love the nightlife. I got to boogie!

We do have kids, but we also have babysitters (my parents are coming with us) and the Oceaneer's Club/Lab/whatever it's called. I am bringing a designated pair of shoes for tearing up the dance floor. I will tell you what there is to offer!

 

[staxia]

Just off the Wonder to Alaska, June 25 sailing...

I was sitting in Diversions one afternoon with my brother playing checkers (oooh! Exciting) -- we happened to wait on a TV Tunes Trivia game to start-- Franky was there (um, assistant cruise director? what IS his title anyways?!) -- and we overheard him talking with some other guests about how on this cruise itinerary, everyone is shutting down early.. as in, the guests.. not the activities, cause there's stuff planned, but the guests themselves are just going to bed earlier than most. He was attributing it to several factors 1- the itinerary itself.. first night everyone quits early b/c of all the travel.. Tuesday night is usually late b/c it was a sea day and Wed is essentially a sea day as well (staying on the ship up through Tracy Arm) Then Wed, Thurs, and Friday nights, people are going to bed early because of early port times. Then Saturday sees a bit more of a later night b/c Victoria is an evening port, but by that time most people are exhausted from all the excursions, and then Sunday night everyone's in bed early to go home on Monday.

he also mentioned that with many of the cruisers coming from the East coast, their bodies just don't acclimate as well, and so they don't stay up as late as they might in the Caribbean.. A night owl, like myself (um, up posting at 2 AM!) -- I didn't really have to reset the body much.. but with early excursions, I had to be up early..

I would have loved for more people to be involved in the activities... and I think that's part of what it is.. There are adult activities planned, but very few people are going. If more people had been, say, in the Cadillac Lounge doing some piano sing alongs, I would have stayed.. but it was awkward with as few as there were... and as I didn't want to drink anything, I figured I'd be better off just going to bed. I also would have stayed up on deck to watch Pirates -- Curse of the Black Pearl on pirate night.. but 1- the only people up there were kids in the pool and hot tub making noise and 2- it was so gosh darn cold and windy, that it wasn't as fun as it could have been. I wandered up there one other night, and there were maybe 2 people watching the movie that night.

I can't say if Disney's to blame or if it's the guests or the cruise or a little bit of all of it, ya know?! Go, see, do.. make the most of it!!

 

[disneyholic family]

That is both encouraging (first response) and disappointing (your post). LOL thanks, both of you, for your responses.

Sadly, it seems Disney parks have been going the same way. Like the gutting of Pleasure Island! My heart still aches for those nights starting at the comedy club, hitting a dance club, and spending the rest of the evening at Adventurer's Club (KUNGALOOSH!). Why take away all the adult fun, Disney? COME ON!

that was our night at PI - starting at comedy club, then on to a dance club (always dead empty), then ending in the adventurers club!!

come on disney - bring back the comedy and adventurer's clubs!!!!!

 

[Chilly]

We did the repo Alaska cruise and thought there was lots going on at night, some nights were busier than others in the club but it was great fun.

Link to my TR in my sig if you want to read about what we did.

 

[scrapbooker79]

Hubby and brother-in-law went out for late night beers at the clubs. My sister and her hubby went to an adult scavenger hunt and had a blast. Wish I could have gone; she said it was a riot, and the kind of things they asked for were NOT for kids.
My kids seemed to konk out early, so pretty much, we had to go back to the room once late dinner was done (a few times they fell asleep AT the dinner table!). And I didn't feel comfortable leaving my kids alone in the room to sneak out, so there were a bunch of things on the navigator that I wish I could have done.
But yes, pretty much around midnight, the adult stuff was over. Then you're just left to wait for your kids to come back home.....

 

[Bunless]

Just wanted to echo the comments about the port schedule and time change acclimation.

That said, as night owls, we still had a lot of fun in the evenings. Late dinner (we were almost always the last ones out), from there we would go over to the adult district. We would spend time in the piano lounge, which later in the night gets a bit more loose and talky. When there were games and shows in Wavebands, we'd walk over there, then go back to the piano lounge again until things shut down. When we would head up to bed, they were still playing music in Wavebands, and there were still a few people dancing... but I think most people were either feeling the time change or knew they had to get up early the next day for excursions.

We just didn't get a lot of sleep the night before Skagway and Ketchikan.

 

[twopeasonepod]

Just back from the 7/9-16 sailing. The adult nightlife was entertaining (Match Your Mate, ventriloquist, etc.), but the music portions (live band, themed dance parties, etc.) were super lame and cheesy IMO. Yes, I get it, it's Disney. But the music was totally a rundown of some VH1 countdown or the top 5 songs of the 70's most played in baseball stadiums, etc.

For example, I'm totally amped and super stoked for 70's night, right? Even brought shoes designated for dancing. But I never even danced once. It is basically just the Electric Slide, YMCA, Stayin' Alive, Jackson 5, and all the hokey stuff. To me, absolutely nothing to get up and dance to. And it was basically 2-3 groups of 5-7 people dancing in a circle with each other.

To his credit, DJ Wendell (?) tried his best after the band left. Started out with LMFAO's "Sexy and I Know It", then Pink's "Raise Your Glass". But there were only a handful of people in the place by then.

I think if there was more music like that earlier in the night, then people might choose to stay later. But it was pretty dead.

 

[lucky1]

Don't forget there is Whisky and Congac tasting at 10:30 at night on several nights.. in Cove Cafe... (Sign up at guest services)

 

[TDC Nala]

If you're looking for things to do after midnight, the nightclub on the ship will be open until 2, but as to whether or not it will be well populated, that will be hit or miss. Unfortunately Disney is not known as a party line.

 

[Mackie Mouse]

I have no idea whether this will be the case in Alaska, but I will say that Pirate Night on our Dream cruise last summer was particularly fun into the wee hours of the evening. DH and I are not huge bar/club goers at home, and I usually fall into the "Disney" routine of heading to bed early and getting up early so I can enjoy every magical moment of a Disney vacation. However, after a few drinks at dinner, and a few more up on deck during the pirate party...and perhaps one or two more during whatever adult entertainment they had going on in Evolution that night...DH and I were ready to dance it up! We went on our cruise with another younger couple and were glad we spent the night in Evolution, as MANY others were also in the pirate night spirit. I'm pretty sure we left the club around 1 or 1:30 AM and the party was still going strong, but we were exhausted. I will actually say that dancing the night away was one of my favorite memories that cruise, and the DJ's music selections were pleasantly surprising. So...perhaps pirate night will be a particularly good night to party it up.

That said, as a warning, I know that pirate night in Alaska has been a bit awkward last year and this year, and that there is also a lack of fireworks due to all the wildlife in the area. Just head to the club and hope for the best! If not...make your own dance party back in your stateroom

 

[mgmcpa]

What do you do with young kids (ie 6 - 8 year olds) ... do they have activities in the Ocean Lab that let the kids nap or does you kid have to be a night owl to make staying out there work for them?

 

[Clotho]

Don't forget there is Whisky and Congac tasting at 10:30 at night on several nights.. in Cove Cafe... (Sign up at guest services)

So hubby is a big whiskey drinker, and he was afraid that the selection would low rent. Especially when he saw the term "single malt tequila" in their marketing.

Did you go to any? If so what did you think?

 

[Clotho]

That said, as a warning, I know that pirate night in Alaska has been a bit awkward last year and this year, and that there is also a lack of fireworks due to all the wildlife in the area. Just head to the club and hope for the best! If not...make your own dance party back in your stateroom

We won't miss the fireworks since we have never cruised before. Thank you for the advice!!

 

[twopeasonepod]

So hubby is a big whiskey drinker, and he was afraid that the selection would low rent. Especially when he saw the term "single malt tequila" in their marketing.

Did you go to any? If so what did you think?

The martini, wine, and beer tastings were all in Diversions (need to check my Navigators about whiskey but I assume the same). The martini liquors were all call or top shelf. Good stuff.

ETA: The two martini tastings were during the day. Like 2pm.

 

[TDC Nala]

The whiskey tasting I went to was in the Cove Cafe. Cozier than Diversions. That might end up being Outlook on the Wonder.
I don't know enough about whiskey to know if it's a "low rent" tasting or not.

Diversions is the pub but it doubles as a sports bar. That said it is not really heavily sports themed, and it won't be sport-centric unless they're broadcasting some kind of major sporting event. Cadillac Lounge is the piano bar. I find it boring. Drinks are good there though. The nightclub, Wavebands, will have dance music at night, a live band in the earlier hours. To sit and chat, try the Outlook on Deck 10.